Cognac Regions

Cognac is rarely born of a single eau-de-vie or a single growing area, but generally from a blend of different ages and crus, sometimes up to a hundred of them.

It can be made also exclusively from certain “cru”, for example exclusively from “Grande Champagne”, but of different ages.

Grande Champagne : about 13,000 hectares of clay and compact chalk soil. The Grande Champagne cru is located around the town of Segonzac. It produces a very fine, high-quality Cognac. It is known as the Premier Cru du Cognac.

Petite Champagne: some 16,000 hectares of clay and a more compact chalky layer of soil. Petit Champagne is very much of the same quality, but a touch lighter. It’s vineyards lie to the south-west and south-east of Grande Champagne.

Fine Champagne : The blending of Grande and Petite Champagne with a minimum of 50% of Grande Champagne is called “Fine Champagne”.

Borderies: only 4,000 hectares of unique soil on the plateau above Charente river. The eau de vie has a slight nutty taste. Borderies, which lie around the town of Burie (north-west of City of Cognac), is the smallest of the crus in the terms of acreage. Eaux-de-vie from Borderies has rich, flowery aromas and it is known as "…Cognac that ladies prefer".

Fins Bois : 37,000 hectares of soil. characterized by quick aging environment. A subtle flowery bouquet characterizes this eau de vie. The largest, and by far the intriguing cru, is Fins Bois. Geographically, it rings the other three crus. It lies, approximately, in the triangle between the towns of Rouilliac, Matha and Pons. It has a rich, full, strong aromas with a touch of the maritime climate.

Bons Bois: less chalky but more earthy soil of 16,000 hectares that is well reflected in the eau de vie.

Bois Ordinaires et Bois Communs (Bois a Terroir); 30,000 hectares of soil influenced by the Atlantic climate. Bons Bois and Bois Ordinaires are the exterior crus heavily influenced by the climate of the Atlantic ocean. They contribute less and less to the overall production of Cognac but are, nevertheless, known to produce some interesting Cognacs.

Created in 1920 by Georges HINE90 years later, the House of HINE reinterprets Antique, now an XO Premier Cru.Blend of more than 40 cognacs exclusively from grapes grown in Grande Champagne, the finest cru of the Cognac region.All cognacs are aged for more than 10 years.

A venerable Grande Champagne from the HINE family’s private reserves, proudly and sparingly released in a strictly limited number of bottles each year to be enjoyed by connoisseurs of truly exceptional cognacs.

In 1791 young Thomas HINE left the family home in Dorset, England for Jarnac in France to learn the language. He probably would have eventually returned home. Fate, however, intervened when he fell in love with Françoise Elisabeth, daughter of a great cognac family. He married her in 1797 and patiently learnt the art of cognac making, which he was to elevate to its highest form of expression.

In 1791 young Thomas HINE left the family home in Dorset, England for Jarnac in France to learn the language. He probably would have eventually returned home. Fate, however, intervened when he fell in love with Françoise Elisabeth, daughter of a great cognac family. He married her in 1797 and patiently learnt the art of cognac making, which he was to elevate to its highest form of expression.

Created in 1991 by Bernard & Jacques HINE, the great great great great grandsons of Thomas HINE to celebrate to bicentenary of their ancestor's arrival in France. They selected their most prestigious cognac, TRIOMPHE, for this occasion.

Created in 1888 by Edouard HINE to celebrate the victory of man over the phylloxera disease, which completely eradicated French vineyards. An exceptional blend of over 50 selected rare cognacs, coming exclusively from the Grande Champagne district.

For each exceptional year, HINE sets aside casks specifically for vintages. They are aged in 18th century cellars in Jarnac under two locks and keys - one belonging to HINE and the other kept by the Cognac authorities.

For each exceptional year, HINE sets aside casks specifically for vintages. They are aged in 18th century cellars in Jarnac under two locks and keys - one belonging to HINE and the other kept by the Cognac authorities.

Le Cognac is dedicated to further the presence of the small Cognac Houses in the global market.It is present in the USA through its participation in Cognac Inc, a licensed importer of high-end Cognacs and animates Club Cognac, a worldwide network of Cognac lovers and sommeliers.